Only excellent programs in literacy education can motivate an adult to develop or increase his reading skills; the direct economic advantages as well as the pleasures of reading must be made apparent. (JB)

Discusses the need for greatly expanded community library services, for librarians to accept social responsibility for education and information, and for the library to become a program for getting information to where it is needed. (JS)

The article describes Iran's attempts to eradicate illiteracy. (MF)

The Federal-State-local, public-private right to read effort is evaluated by the former acting director of the Right to Read National Reading Center. (JF)

The new director of the Right to Read Program answers criticisms of that program by its former director. (JF)

The author, secretary general of the Republic of Zambia, discusses education (and particularly adult education) as a political imperative in Africa. He cites the problems of illiteracy and of the desire for a democratic system, and suggests that population growth must be adjusted to development potential. (MF)

The origins, objectives, organization, and programs of the Institute are briefly described. (LS)

Attacks the whole-word, or "look-say," method of teaching reading, widely used in the United States since 1836. Cites evidence to support this method as the sole reason for the high functional illiteracy rate in the U.S. Recommends the use of intensive phonics as the solution to America's reading problem. (NJ)

Presents a plan to begin the elimination of illiteracy: each family with a child who fails to achieve literacy in the public schools for three years in a row would be given the option of sending the child to the private school of their choice at taxpayer expense. (Author/WD)

Examining literacy and adult education in the United Kingdom (U.K.), this issue is divided into four parts: (1) Introductory Survey, which discusses the U.K. experience in adult literacy; (2) The Provider, which presents agencies involved in adult education; (3) Resources, which describes the Adult Literacy Resource Agency; and (4) Learning…

A study of the literacy situation in the Asian region served as the basis for a Unesco regional conference. Findings of the study indicate that more than half of the world's illiterate population is in the Asia and Oceania regions. Factors contributing to successful literacy programs are presented. (LRA)

Examines contemporary "technocratic" and "progressive" approaches to literacy. Discusses "functional literacy" in relation to the classical model of "high literacy." Suggests research be guided by considerations of contextual factors influencing acquisition and use of literate abilities and organized in…

Describes the difficulty in reading and writing Persian script which may contribute to illiteracy in Iran and notes the political and religious considerations which make change difficult. (MKM)

An instrument for evaluating extension teaching effectiveness was developed for low literate audiences and tested for content and face validity and reliability. The nine-item instrument used a pictorial scale and open-ended statement to assess six dimensions of teaching: learning, enthusiasm, organization, group interaction, individual rapport,…

A study of 41 sex offenders who are deaf found the rate of sexual offending was 4 times the rate of sexual offending by hearing offenders, with 30% recidivism. Sixty-two percent of subjects were functionally illiterate. However, the performance IQs were comparable to those of the overall prison population. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)